We recommend that all students come with a well equipped laptop computer (for free movement across the college). Wi-Fi is available throughout our campus, and all residence halls have ethernet ports.

Note: You are not required to purchase a computer or software, as we have computer labs for you to use. To succeed using our labs alone, however, will require your careful time management.

Tips

• Before buying anything, check our discounts and campus software (you might not wish to buy what we already have available).

• The York College Bookstore offers a variety of computers for students and faculty.

Software

• Microsoft Office 365

  • Tip: We offer this for free.

Any major recommendations are listed below.

Note: SOLIDWORKS may not currently work on Windows 11. Please contact your professor or department to ask whether you'll be using SOLIDWORKS and what their current recommendation is. If you have Windows 11, you may still be able to use SOLIDWORKS remotely.

If any major has computer or software recommendations beyond our minimum suggestions above, they're listed here. Please contact us with any questions.

Headset with microphone

• For remote class meetings.

10 foot cat6 ethernet cable

• For a wired internet connection in your residence hall.

ACC ethernet adapter, if your laptop does not have an ethernet port.

• To use with the ethernet cable.

HDMI, mini display port, or USB-C adapter, if your laptop does not have these ports.

• To present in our smart classrooms.

500GB or larger external hard drive or solid state drive (SSD)

• To backup up your laptop’s hard drive.

We recommend using Windows Security, which is a default on all Windows 10 computers. If you have a computer without Security, then we suggest choosing a software with up-to-date definitions and routinely scheduled virus scans.

Notes

• No antivirus is required to connect to the York College network.

• We do not provide antivirus software.